Mason County Excessive Faculty class of 2023 graduate Carson Pugh has set his sights excessive for his future.
The Mason County athletics veteran, Pugh, was a member of each the varsity soccer group and baseball groups all through his highschool profession, however mentioned that baseball has all the time been his largest ardour, athletically. Throughout his time on the baseball group, Pugh racked up a decent variety of stats, with a profession whole of .346 batting common and .461 on base proportion throughout his time as a 3 yr starter.
Pugh additionally racked up a .579 batting common and a .692 on base proportion all through his profession in playoff video games.
“I attempted to do the most effective I might once I was, I’m not gonna say injured, however just a little beat up typically, I used to be by no means gonna not play. I wasn’t gonna let my group down.” mentioned Pugh.
Like many youngsters, Pugh picked up a love of baseball at a younger age.
“I performed from coach pitch to little league, to center faculty and all the way in which as much as highschool.” mentioned Pugh.
Having fallen in love with the game early on, Pugh went by means of quite a few positions to attempt to discover the one which was finest for him. At all times one which wished to be on the sphere as a lot as doable, he rapidly realized catching behind the plate was a job nobody wished, and would mainly assure he’d play each recreation.
“I simply determined I used to be gonna be a catcher and tried it one time and it ended up being my favourite factor. You’re concerned in each single play.” mentioned Pugh.
“Having any person that actually likes to play that place is few and much between in highschool baseball. Primary in the event you’re gonna play that function, you’re all the time gonna be within the recreation and that tells me that he’s a gamer.” mentioned Royals head coach, Jason Butler.
Coach Butler joined the Royals teaching workers as head coach within the 2022 season, Carson’s junior yr.
The 2022 season was the second season Carson and his fellow class of 2023 graduates had been in a position to take part in, with the cancellation of the 2020 season as a result of COVID-19. Pugh was the beginning catcher all three years he was a member of the Royals, serving to lead the group to a few straight district titles, and Mason County’s first win within the regional event since 2014 this season.
“In my two seasons, we performed sixty-two video games, and he caught each recreation. The truth that you’re in a position to keep harm free on that’s exceptional inside itself, however to be prepared to all the time put that gear on and return there and be one of the essential place gamers on the sphere tremendously helped and it’s gonna be a void that’s going to be laborious to fill.” mentioned coach Butler.
Coach Butler famous that Pugh’s management capabilities had been another excuse he was a stand-out on the group.
Pugh might typically be heard shouting encouragement to his teammates, whether or not that be a pitcher struggling from the mound, a place participant lacking a catch or a runner getting an unlucky out, Pugh made it a objective to maintain his teammates pondering positively, and get again on the observe to maneuver ahead.
Carson’s talent behind the plate, each as a catcher and a batter, led him to be chosen to play for the thirty ninth and fortieth districts group on the first ever tenth area all-star recreation. Coach Butler was the top coach of this group as effectively.
“I wasn’t anticipating to get to play one other baseball recreation once more, and after they mentioned I used to be gonna get to play in that, I used to be actually excited. One other likelihood to finish my profession on a win, which we ended up doing.” mentioned Pugh.
Pugh caught three innings on the all-star recreation, catching for considered one of his personal pitchers, Landon Scilley, and different prime pitchers all through the area.
The thirty ninth and fortieth district group was in a position to pull off a come from behind win, after tying the sport on a house run within the backside of the seventh, loading the bases and Scilley being batted in by George Rogers Clark class of 2023 graduate, Caden Spicer.
“Primary, as a coach you by no means need to lose any senior, and I had a pair there in that recreation. As a head coach, I used to be lucky sufficient to educate each Trey and him, yet one more recreation. As a coach, you by no means need to lose seniors however you’re joyful they’re gonna go off and do nice issues.” mentioned coach Butler, “To have the ability to lead them one final time I believe was a reminiscence that was not solely nice that evening, but it surely’s one thing that whether or not it’s days, weeks or years down the highway, is one thing that we’ll have the ability to replicate again upon and say we had been within the first yr in that all-star recreation.”
Pugh’s efficiency on the all-star recreation, was as rock strong as ever. Regardless of placing out for the primary time in practically ten video games, Pugh was a worthwhile asset to the thirty ninth and fortieth district groups efficiency that recreation.
Though Pugh loves the sport of baseball, and the love for the sport won’t ever depart him, the all-star recreation would be the final baseball recreation he performs. He has determined to say no all affords from faculty recruiters to pursue one other ardour of his: medication.
Pugh has enrolled within the College of Kentucky’s biology program, with a pre-med pathway. Pugh hopes to turn into an orthopedic surgeon down the road, and is able to put within the work to make it a actuality.
“Once I was little I broke a whole lot of bones. I used to be all the time seeing Josh loads, I ended up actually liking him. I by no means actually thought I wished to do one thing like that till junior yr, it actually got here to me and I knew how a lot I preferred Josh so I used to be like I believe I’m gonna give this a shot.” mentioned Pugh.
His aspirations past the world of baseball are one other factor coach Butler commends about Pugh. His dedication each on and off the sphere have confirmed to educate Butler that Carson will have the ability to do no matter he units his thoughts to.
“Carson might’ve went, and he might have performed at some smaller faculties, however the truth that he is aware of what he needs to do, I’m positive that could be a consolation not solely to his mother and father and his household, but in addition to Carson. To be pushed at such a younger age, and to know what you need to do is simply another excuse why I do know he’s gonna achieve success.” mentioned coach Butler.